minkota service

[C Steel]

I want to know how people have managed to get their minkota warinty work done in a short time. I had the tackle shop I bought mine from send mine RT 55 away due to a crook plug almost a month before the Glenelg comp in Feb. The shop tells me they keep getting a message bank when they try to find when it will be back.

Other than those problems it was a great motor and I have not had any problems with the auto piolet. It was about 14 months old and the plug to the foot control was the only part which has given problems

I would not buy another without auto piolet as I use it all the time trolling for cod and trout.

[don]

Hi CS

I had a problem with mine in WA.

Took it straight to BLA to send back.
Talked to my supplier and got hold of Tim Morgans mob no. and he was great about it .
It took 2 weeks and it was back on my front door ready in time for the comps I wanted to fish.

Great service BLA and thanks to Tim for his help.

[swoffa]

My RT55AP has been sent back to BLA in QLD several times. Each time I took it myself to BLA in Sydney, and made sure they were sending it off that day. I've had it take 2-5 days each time to get delivered back to my door at no charge.

When my foot pedal has shat itself, I've been loaned a spare from BLA in Sydney to cover me for the few days while mine is away.

[Craig]

I have used the BLA office in Fremantle a couple of times and the service has been fine but it is a bit of a pain having to get the Kota and/or foot control there.

Last time I just put the foot control in an express post pack and sent it myself which cost approx $10. Turnaround time was a week or so.

As has been said before the service when delivered to BLA is fine but the number of warranty claims is extraordinary and Minn Kota really do need to address the issue.

[The_Scales]

Hi guys, I just thought I might mention a few things that might prevent someone having troubles with any RTAP model.

The manual states to store it in an upright position, for me this is easy I just lower the unit B4 I put it into my garage. If you store your boat outside I would recommend you take it off the boat and store it upright some how.

I also keep mine heavily coated in silicon spray to prevent water ingress.

If I travel a long distance I would take it of the boat as it would have the S**T shaken out of it. I feel that the compass card inside the head is a very fragile unit that could be damaged easily without care.

Also it states in the manual that the AP feature will not function correctly if the head unit is tilted more than 5 deg from vert. This is also a fine tolerance.

I have a RT65AP and would not be caught dead without the AP feature.

Also make sure you instal a cct brkr or a inline fuse of the correct rating for your motor.

I have no connection with Minn Kota or any other sponsors I just like to fish for bream. I'm an avionics technician so I have a good understanding of electronics and servo mechanisms etc. I just thought these ideas might help / prevent someone doing some thing wrong that might be over looked easily.

Regards Nick

[Bear]

Interesting thing Nick, is that I find most of us have very little problem with the main unit itself. The big issue is the foot pedal really.

Like you I swear by the Kotas as I find the design much easier to use.

JMO.

[The_Scales]

G'day Bear, thinking about it, it is probably the weakest link in the system, as it is out in the elements the most. If you look you can actually see the printed circuit board in between the different controls.
It looks like it has got a plastic coating on it to protect it. There are moving parts in there and as we all know moving parts wear out first.
All I can recommend is spraying it with silcon spray regularly.
Nick

[Craig]

From previous posts I believe the spraying of the circuit board with any spray actually gives grit and grime something to adhere to and therefore accelerates the wear – water gets into the circuits earlier and your stuffed!

Interestingly a friend of mine has taken the extraordinary step of coating his circuit board with clear tape in the hope of preventing or delaying the wearing process. So far it is working fine but I will wait a while and see how it goes before I try it.

[swoffa]

I hang the foot control up when not in use. I spray the crap out of it with Inpx every so often and the extra Inox drains out when it's hanging.

[Mark M]

Bear my problem was the steering servo, replaced under warranty, but took 10 weeks for the same repair that Swoffa had done in 5 days:confused:

My AP has occasional lapses of memory and drives in circles, but like you I do prefer the Kota pedal over the cable steer types for comfort. I tried to use a couple on my Pro's boats in the AOY rounds and looked like a drunk. Just practice I suppose?

MM

[Mim]

Hey guys,

Rod asked me to post this up for him as he thought the advice he gave on another site was relevent to this thread.

Guys i have just got my Minn Kota agency and i was reading thru some of the info(just to familiarize myself) and i found this interesting tip.

Quote
"After use, washing your Minn Kota unit with warm soapy water and then rinsing with freshwater will ensure the life of your Minn Kota product is extended and trouble free.
You can even dunk your foot control in a bucket of water to ensure all dust and salt particles are removed.
Do not spray your foot control as this will create a sticky surface that will attract sand and dust which will eventually wear through the protective coating on the foot control allowing water to get into your circuit board. Please pass this tip onto your customers"

This has come from the March newsletter and i now people have had a few problems with foot controllers so i thought it couldn't hurt to post, especially as it is different than i would have thought to maintain the units

He then went on to say

As you now there has been a few problems with the foot pedals so it pays to do as per the experts.

I just confirmed and the problems that have occurred have been because people are spraying with inox, crc to try and help protect but what happens is dirt then sticks to the unit and wears away the water proofing. YOU CAN COMPLETELY SUBMERSE THE FOOT PEDAL IN WATER and then store in a dry area.

Cheers

Mim

[swoffa]

Originally posted by Mark M
Bear my problem was the steering servo, replaced under warranty, but took 10 weeks for the same repair that Swoffa had done in 5 days:confused:


Mine's had the steering servo done twice. Once it took 3 days, the other time was 5 days.
I think the BLA in Sydney send units to QLD every day. I ring them in the morning and find out when the unit needs to be there in order to be sent that day, that way I know it'll be attended to immediately.

[eddystone]

I had a mate that was having issues changing directs with the foot pedal....

A wash in warm water and it was ready to go again:) :)

Just a thought.

eddy

[swoffa]

The first time my steering servo crapped itself I inloaded half a can of Inox into the motor (where the shaft goes through), this fixed the problem for a few weeks.

[Mim]

The first time my steering servo crapped itself I inloaded half a can of Inox into the motor (where the shaft goes through), this fixed the problem for a few weeks.

Do not spray your foot control as this will create a sticky surface that will attract sand and dust which will eventually wear through the protective coating on the foot control allowing water to get into your circuit board.

That is why it only worked for a few weeks. Do the right thing and wash it the way the manufacturers specify and you shouldn't have any problems.

Cheers

Mim

[Richo]

I think Swoffa said he unloaded half a can of Inox into the motor and not the pedal. And it didnt work out in the end but got him back on the water for a few weeks.

[Mim]

Oh!!!

Woops!!!

My mistake:)

[Ozzy1]

Sounds to me like they have problems right from the outset and for the money it's not really good enough looking at their website I see they have a 3 year warranty i'd be starting to hope that the problems are ironed out before thats up or peoples pockets are going to be a lot lighter I'm looking at buying a new boat once the house is sold and I have moved but I am having second thoughts on having an electric especially a MK if these posts are anything to go by

Cheers
Ozzy

[Bream Addict]

I am having second thoughts on having an electric

why? it seems like they have god service, and the only leccy that has had many probs is the ap riptide, there is plenty of other mks out there and there is also the mgs.

[swoffa]

Originally posted by MimboNo5
Oh!!!

Woops!!!

My mistake:)

Richo's right, I sprayed it into the motor itself (onto the steering servo).

The best part was the constant slick of Inox around the boat on the trip following the spraying. :p

[The_Scales]

MimboNo5, Thanks for the heads up mate.

I'm curious did the old black models with the AP feature ever have the same problems?

A mate of mine had one years ago and it never missed a beat.

Nick

[K.4.R.M.4]

Whereabout in Fremantle is the BLA office guys?

[Geoff R]

Hey guys if any one is a "guru" in destroying stuff it's me, ask any of the old crew from this site and they'll attest to my self destructing tendancies!!!!.
I have run a wire brush over my "live" hard wired Kota's foot control metal prongs twice and blown 2 circuit boards, why , i was trying to clean corrosion off them, I learned the hard way and had a re-test!!!!.
I recently replaced a mother circuit board, control snake, power cable and foot control cord "to the unit" and bought a new pedal all of my own accord because my Kota was under performing. I didn't want to wait for the turn around time it would take to send it to QLD, my unit is out of warranty now and it is quite simple i found.
Those of you who know me, can get in contact with me if you need some help, I must say that Wayne from BLA in "BrisVegas" is a top bloke and was a great help in getting the parts to me quickly and as cheap as possible.
I would not go for any other type of Electric Motor, Minn Kota's are a great piece of kit and will rarely let you down unless you are a twit like me.

Johanness BLA in WA is at Unit 5 Strang crt Beaconsfield right next door to the Perth Chapter of the Coffincheaters M.C.

[Mim]

Hey Geoff,

How's the pergola building going?

Have you broken anything yet?
Poles, Drills, Drill Bits, Fingers, Toes?

Yes Geoff even has the nickname of Bandaid Boy, ask him about Albany sometime.

On another side we have the Kota Cable steer and have only had very minor problems, as there are no mother or father boards or anything like that, just a cable that runs to the foot pedal to turn right, left or reverse.

Cheers

Mim

[Geoff R]

I will be in touch Mim as we need to christen it with the inaugural BBQ, Theres no chance of me breaking anything, a carpenter is doing the whole lot for us, "phew"!!!!.
I did stuff my grinder paving a driveway from my shed to the cross over, the switch got full of brick dust cause i took the guard off it. I bypassed the switch and wear rubber soled shoes when i use it now, "SHE'S SWEET" , If it stops raining i can get out there and finnish the job.

[BoofHed]

I bypassed the switch and wear rubber soled shoes when i use it now,
Be a bit carefull geof if it gets away from u then the rubber sole shoes wont stop it from cutting of ya foot and u will need more than a bandaid lol
Bruce

[C Steel]

I got my Minkota back Friday.

It had not been sent to Qld. It was decided to not send the motor away but send the replacement part to Victoria. The dealer was then billed for the part and kept it until it was agreed that Minkota would replace the part under warinty.

It all turned out well with everything being done under warinty and I have got my motor back